It Almost Worked: The Battle of Fort Stedman

In March 1865, Robert E. Lee’s army was running out of time, food, and options. With Petersburg’s trenches choking the Confederate army and Richmond nearing collapse, Lee turned to General John B. Gordon for one last desperate plan. That plan became the attack on Fort Stedman — Lee’s final major offensive of the Civil War. In this episode of History with Waffles, we walk the ground at Petersburg National Battlefield, from the Union supply lines and winter huts to Fort Stedman, Colquitt’s Salient, Harrison’s Creek, and the preserved earthworks where Gordon’s men launched their surprise attack before dawn on March 25, 1865. At first, the attack worked. Confederate soldiers overwhelmed the forward Union lines, captured Fort Stedman, and briefly gave Lee’s army its last taste of success in Virginia. But confusion, darkness, Union artillery, and Pennsylvania reinforcements quickly turned that success into disaster. This is the story of Lee’s last offensive — the attack that almost worked, and the failure that helped open the road to Richmond’s fall and Appomattox. Chapters 00:00 Lee’s Army Was Desperate Robert E. Lee, March 1865, Civil War, Petersburg Campaign, Fort Stedman 02:30 Meade Station and the Union Supply Line Meade Station, City Point, Union supply line, Petersburg railroad, Civil War logistics 04:11 Union Winter Huts at Petersburg Petersburg winter quarters, Union army huts, Civil War trenches, Petersburg National Battlefield 06:06 Inside the Recreated Cabin Civil War soldier life, Union winter cabin, Petersburg exhibit, Civil War camp life 08:12 George Pentecost and the Human Cost George Pentecost, 100th Pennsylvania, Fort Stedman casualties, Civil War soldiers 09:36 Recreated Earthworks and Trench Defenses Civil War earthworks, Petersburg trenches, Fort Stedman defenses, Union fortifications 11:04 Richmond Nears Collapse Richmond 1865, Confederate desertion, London Times Civil War, Lee’s army starving 13:13 Outside the Trenches abatis, Civil War fortifications, Petersburg earthworks, trench warfare 15:06 Walking the Closed Eastern Front Road Petersburg National Battlefield, Eastern Front Road, Fort Stedman trail, Civil War battlefield tour 16:07 Gordon’s Three Options for Lee John B. Gordon, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Fort Stedman plan, Lee’s last offensive 18:44 The Sinkhole Closing the Road Petersburg park road closed, battlefield preservation, Petersburg National Battlefield 21:33 Harrison’s Creek: Farthest Confederate Advance Harrison’s Creek, Fort Stedman advance, Hartranft’s Pennsylvania troops, Confederate attack 24:52 Standing at Fort Stedman Fort Stedman, Colquitt’s Salient, Petersburg siege, Civil War battlefield 26:55 Inside Fort Stedman Fort Stedman interior, Civil War fort, Petersburg battlefield tour, Union defenses 28:39 The Surprise Attack Begins Fort Stedman attack, Confederate surprise attack, Gordon’s assault, March 25 1865 30:29 Park Signs and Battlefield Preservation Petersburg preservation, Civil War park signs, Fort Stedman history, battlefield maintenance 34:21 Walking Toward Colquitt’s Salient Colquitt’s Salient, Fort Stedman monument, Petersburg battlefield, Confederate lines 36:46 Union Forward Lines and Battery 10 Battery 10, Union rifle pits, Fort Stedman defenses, Civil War artillery 39:49 Why Gordon Chose Fort Stedman General Gordon, James Walker, Colquitt’s Salient, Fort Stedman weak point 47:12 Behind Colquitt’s Salient Confederate trenches, Colquitt’s Salient, Petersburg siege, Confederate army 1865 49:08 Confederate Earthworks and Mud Huts Confederate earthworks, Petersburg trenches, Civil War mud huts, Lee’s army 51:14 Gracie’s Salient Gracie’s Salient, Archibald Gracie, Alabama troops, Petersburg Campaign 52:08 Walking the Confederate Attack Route Fort Stedman attack route, Confederate advance, Colquitt’s Salient to Fort Stedman 53:39 “The Rebels Are Coming” James A. Walker, Fort Stedman quote, Confederate assault, Civil War eyewitness 54:58 Crossing the Field at 4:30 A.M. Fort Stedman dawn attack, Confederate soldiers, Civil War night attack 56:19 Battery 10 Captured Battery 10 captured, Fort Stedman assault, Civil War artillery, Gordon’s attack 58:16 Confederates Enter Fort Stedman Fort Stedman captured, John B. Gordon, Confederate breakthrough, Petersburg battle 01:00:35 Lee’s Last Offensive Collapses Lee’s last offensive, Fort Stedman defeat, Confederate losses, Appomattox Campaign 01:05:11 Final Thoughts from Fort Stedman History with Waffles, Fort Stedman tour, Petersburg National Battlefield, Civil War history